RE Authority, Religion and State - Issues about Punishment

Issues about Punishment

Punishment - A common belief among religious is that if you do not do your duty then you will be punished. For some believers this punishment may take the form of living with a guilty conscience or part of a divine plan after death (like Hell or reincarnation as a lesser form).

General

• All religions agree that the main areas of punishment are: stop other from breaking the law, protect the rest of society and gain justice or vindiction.
• Justice does not include getting your own back. Forgiveness is an important part of all religious teachings/traditions.
• Within prisons there are faith members of different traditions who seek to reform criminals so that they won't become a repeat offender when released.

Christian

• Forgiveness is an important concept, taught by the examples Jesus led.
• The role of sanctity of life.
• All life is sacred and only God has the right to take it away.
• The Old Testement teaches 'and eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth'. The concept of revenge.
• One of the 10 commandments is 'Thou shall not kill'.
• Quakers…